AN enterprising entrepreneur from Westbury has been named Accountant of the Year by the International Association of Bookkeepers (IAB).

Natasha Penny’s Bratton-based Busy Books business, which she set up just over four years ago, has gone from strength to strength.

The service, which she runs alongside being a mum to Olivia, aged six, is popular with small businesses for its bookkeeping and accounting services, as well as its award-winning customer service.

Miss Penny said: “We go above and beyond at Busy Books.

“It’s not just doing someone’s accounts and seeing them once a year; we get involved, celebrate their birthday and we’re invited to their Christmas party.

“I think that personal touch is the reason I was named Accountant of the Year.”

Miss Penny could not attend the award ceremony at the House of Commons on Thursday, December 8 as Olivia was poorly.

“I was heartbroken I couldn’t go to the ceremony but the office is now filled with flowers and it’s a brilliant way to end the year, it was awesome to win,” she added.

“I kept up to speed with the ceremony on Twitter. It was bittersweet as the IAB posted pictures of all the winners but I just saw my name and no picture.

“Olivia comes first though, of course.”

At the age of 18 Miss Penny was a cleaner and had plans to set up her own cleaning business.

But after a bad car accident she had to rethink her career.

Since then she has suffered from back pain, making it hard to do heavy manual work.

In preparation for her cleaning business she had been attending an IAB Level 2 course and decided to focus on bookkeeping full-time.

She completed IAB to diploma level and moved on to AAT.

She said: “It was a bad accident but in a way it was a blessing in disguise as it meant I could set up Busy Books.

“I’m a strong believer that everything happens for a reason.”

When Miss Penny started Busy Books she only had two clients and it was based around her young family, but she now has an office in Bratton, over 200 clients and a growing team.